Method and means of garment suspension



y 20, 1952 s. EISENBERG 2,597,462

METHOD AND MEANS OF GARMENT SUSPENSION Filed Nov. 29, 1948 IN YEN 70R JYLVl/V EIJ'ENBERG ATTORNEY Patented May 20, 1952 METHOD AND MEANS OF GARMENT SUSPENSION Sylvan Eisenberg, Belmont, Calif.

Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,533

2 Claims. ((31. 223-96) This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a hanger for skirts, trousers, and the like, and more particularly to a method wherein a slideable spring is used to provide tension on the gripping members of the hanger from which garments may be suspended.

Heretofore, it has been customary to clamp garments tightly in such hangers by using a horizontal member slideable vertically along the hook of the hanger, several notches on the hook, in some instances providing the means for holding the sliding member in the adjusted position. Thus, the rigid and tightly adjusted member exerts sufiicient tension on the hook to clamp or hold the garment between the gripping members or slabs.

This practice of the prior art possesses the disadvantage that the two arms of the hook which support the gripping members through constant tightening of the said sliding member in the notches, bends the hook arms out of shape. Depending upon the frequency with which such hangers are used, this bending action of the hook arms sooner or later causes a permanent set or distortion and loss of elasticity in the arms of the hook, with the result that the sliding member can no longer be tightened. When this occurs the hanger loses its usefulness, since a garment cannot be held in place any longer.

An important object of this invention is to prevent permanent set or distortion of the arms of the hook of a clamp type garment hanger by using a horizontal spring slideable vertically on the hook arms in such a manner as to clamp the gripping members or slabs tightly together by resilient action, thus relieving the hook of pressure and assuring the hanger of increased durability and useful life.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exchangeable spring which, by removal and replacement from time to time, will extend the serviceability of the hanger to almost unlimited duration.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a means of simple construction which will permit improvement of existing hangers by the use of a spring as described herein.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodi-' ment and one variant thereof, it is to be understood that the same are merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other.

showing an adjustment of the tensioning member.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a hanger embodying the instant invention, showing a modified type of spring tensioning member adapted to accomplish the objects and results set forth herein.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale taken along the line V--V of Figure 3.

In the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, and which represent for the purposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown at l5 two slabs or gripping members formed of metal, wood, plastic, or other suitable material. A hook It made of metal or other suitable material having resilient characteristics, has two arms M which are attached at the free ends thereof to the central portion of each slab l5, although attachment may be at any point for specialized purposes. By pulling the two arms Hi of the hook I6 together, the slabs I5 are closed in such a manner as to hold a garment i8 firmly in place therebetween. A tension spring IT has its ends slideably supported on the arms M of the hook IS in such a manner that when the spring is moved upwards along the arms of the hook I 6 the resilient action of the hook opens the gripping member l5 conveniently, and when the spring I! is moved downwardly along the arms Id of the hook Hi the spring closes the slabs l5 by exerting overpowering tension on the arms of the hook.

A torsion spring I9 of the type illustrated in Figure 5 may be substituted for the tension spring l1, if desired, without departing from the scope of the instant invention.

When the hanger is empty and the spring I! is raised to its uppermost position neither of the arms M of the hook is or the spring I1 is under tension. As a garment I8 is clamped between the gripping member IS, the spring I1 is moved downward, sliding along the arms M of the hook 16. Although the spring I! is normally prevented by the thickness of the garment [8 from completing closing the clamping members l5, downward movement of the spring I! is stopped as soon as the spring 11 exerts sufficient tension to hold the: gripping; membersilfiin" predetermined pressingengagement with the garment 13. Thus, the spring 11 serves to absorb the tension necessary to clamp the slabs 15 towards one an other.

In order to release the garment [8, spring, I1

is moved upwards by sliding it along the arms IA of the hook I6 until the grippingactionof the members [5 is eased sufliciently .to permit the garment I8 clamped therebetween' to be readily and easily removed.

From this description it will be apparent that the present invention produces a method of quickly, andreasily gripping; andreleasing garmentsfrom a hanger. Any hanger which is constructedalong the lines indicated may readily be modifiedtoiembody the present invention .by providing such a hanger withv a. spring of the type disclosed herein.

I'claimz.

1. A garment hanger of the character described, comprising co..-operable jaws .for gripping a. skirt orthe like, a suspension element and handle in the form ofa continuous length of resilient wire or. rodnbentvinto a generally U- shapehavinga base and generally parallel legs, said element being bent adjacent its base to form a hook, being also .bent adjacent its opposite end and fixed'atsaidend to, said jaws, said 511513811? sion, elementacting to urge saidjaws toiopen 4 position, and a spring slidably attached at its opposite ends to said legs, extending therebetween and slidable therealong to exert a resilient closing force on said legs which diminishes as said spring means is moved along said legs away from said jaws.

2. A garment hanger of the character described, comprising cooperable Jaws for gripping av skirt. or. the like, asuspen'sionelement and handle in the-form of a continuous length of resilient wire or rod bent into a generally U- shape having a base and generally parallel legs, said element being bent adjacent its base to form a hook, being also bent adjacent its opposite end and fixed at said end to said jaws, said suspension element acting to urge said jaws to open position,.and a coil spring having its end portions encircling'said legs and slidable therealong, said spring being of a length to be under tension throughout a substantial range of its movement alongsaid legs and cooperating with the legseof said suspension element to exert increased resilientclosing-force. as said springis' moved toward said jaws.

SYLVA-N- EISENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 590,401 Morgan Sept. 21, 1897 776,101 Anderton Nov. 29, 1904 1,022,295 Bowman Apr. 2, 1912 1,334,798 Saito Mar. 23, 1920 2,209,864 Warren July 30, 1940 2,212,524 Hufi Aug. 27, v194:0 

